Building and Constructionhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/taxonomy/term/6303/feed
enGovernment construction projects will support skills traininghttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-construction-projects-will-support-skills-training
Government agencies are being encouraged to take skills and training into account when contracting for large construction projects, rather than wait for it to become mandatory.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is currently working to make skills and training development a requirement for construction procurement projects valued at over $10 million and this will likely take effect next year.
However Economic Development Minister David Parker and Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa have agreed that Government agencies should take the lead in setting good construction procurement practice as soon as possible.
They are writing to chief executives of 137 government departments and agencies advising them not to wait until it becomes a requirement.
“While central government contracts only make up about 18 per cent of construction activity, government should take a leadership role,” David Parker said.
“There's no ‘one size fits all’ solution to the delivery of complex infrastructure, but there are good practices that can be more consistently applied.”
The chief executives are being encouraged to follow the Construction Procurement Guidelines, and to consider adding skills and training components as requirements in new construction contracts.
“Government agencies can use their capital investment to find ways to partner more effectively with the construction sector to deliver better value, and better outcomes, for New Zealand,” David Parker said.
The voluntary Construction Procurement Guidelines were developed in conjunction with the industry in 2015 and provide direction on areas such as considering whole-of-life costs and outcomes and the appropriate allocation of risk.
Jenny Salesa said the Government has had a number of discussions with stakeholders in the construction sector about how to work together better to improve long-term outcomes.
“They have told us that consistent use of these Guidelines will be positive for the sector as a whole.
“We have heard there is also a tendency for agencies to favour the lowest cost bid, which typically favours suppliers who do not invest in training and developing their workforce.
“This has been a long-standing issue that has contributed to a shortfall of about 30,000 construction workers. Creating a more sustainable construction sector for New Zealand means we need to invest in workforce development and training,” said Jenny Salesa.
The Government Rules of Sourcing, which are used in conjunction with the Guidelines, will be updated to include a new requirement for agencies to provide evidence that the Guidelines have been considered. This is expected to come into effect next year.
Notes to Editors:
The New Zealand Government spends approximately $41 billion each year on procuring goods and services. This is about 18 per cent of New Zealand GDP.
Construction Procurement Guidelines are available at: https://www.procurement.govt.nz/procurement/specialised-procurement/construction-procurement/
The Government Rules of Sourcing are at:
https://www.procurement.govt.nz/procurement/principles-and-rules/government-rules-of-sourcing/
Thu, 06 Dec 2018 16:35:08 +1300beehive.govt.nz106552Planning for 21st century construction skillshttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/planning-21st-century-construction-skills
The Government has today showcased its plan to improve the construction industry’s ability to deliver skilled jobs, careers, and build more houses, says Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa.
“The Construction Skills Action Plan addresses skills and labour shortages in the construction industry. We are taking this issue very seriously, with multiple Ministers working together, with input from industry.
“Together we will ensure the construction sector can deliver the right people at the right time with the right skills to meet our construction needs.
“In June and July this year, more than 140 individuals and representatives of organisations attended workshops to test the practicality and implementation of the Action Plan initiatives. Attendees told us what they thought was missing and what else Government and the sector could do together to address workforce issues.
“This is the first time we have had such a coordinated, collaborative and forward-looking approach to construction skills.
“The Action Plan has six initial priority areas. They are:
Leveraging government procurement
Establishing additional jobs and skills hubs
Growing construction careers and credentials
Expanding skills for industry
Mana in Mahi – Strength in Work
Further changes to immigration settings.
“This is an important first step in delivering the construction skills we need for the 21st century.”
The Action Plan was announced at a Housing New Zealand site in Otara by Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Economic Development David Parker, and Minister of Employment Willie Jackson.
“The construction sector is very important to the economic wellbeing of New Zealand and its people. It is one of our largest employers with nearly 10 per cent of the workforce engaged in construction-related occupations,” said Jenny Salesa.
“The Action Plan also feeds into the much broader Coalition Government plan to build a productive and sustainable economy that makes sure all New Zealanders share in the rewards of economic growth.
“The construction sector is rapidly evolving – even five years ago few people would have appreciated the impacts of innovation and technology, and so creating a plan that moves with, and reflects these changes, is vital.
“This Housing New Zealand redevelopment at Clayton Avenue in Otara utilises prefabricated building technology, as well as cross-laminated timber provided by Nelson-based company XLam. Accurate off-site manufacture means on-site construction is very rapid, and this type of innovation will reshape the skills we need.
“We know that building a sustainable construction workforce for New Zealand will take a sustained effort over time. Good outcomes will be underscored by partnerships and buy-in as the construction sector evolves.
“Further announcements in each of the areas will be made in the coming months. In the longer term additional priority areas may be added,” said Jenny Salesa.
Thu, 04 Oct 2018 12:19:15 +1300beehive.govt.nz105786More certainty in construction sector smooths boom and bust cyclehttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-certainty-construction-sector-smooths-boom-and-bust-cycle
The 2018 National Construction Pipeline Report released today shows signs of sustained growth for the next six years, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa says.
The 2018 report provides a projection of national building and construction activity for the next six years, through to 31 December 2023. It includes national and regional breakdowns of actual and forecast residential building, non-residential building and infrastructure activity.
Jenny Salesa said for the first time since the Construction Pipeline forecasts were first published in 2013, the modelling forecasts sustained growth, reflecting strong construction demand nationwide.
“Further, national dwelling unit consents are projected to reach historic highs and we have already seen evidence of this with consenting in Auckland currently at its highest level for 15 years.
“New Zealand’s traditional construction boom-bust cycles have undermined the certainty and confidence needed to grow skills and sustain a robust workforce over time. Gains made in peak periods dissipate and the effort to gear up again has taken energy that could have been more usefully applied to supporting innovation and efficiencies.
“Greater confidence and certainty within the construction sector will provide a more stable foundation as we embark on the decade-long KiwiBuild project to deliver an additional 100,000 modest starter homes into the market,” Jenny Salesa said.
Further information
The 2018 National Construction Pipeline Report is based on building and construction forecasting by The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), and Pacifecon NZ Ltd data on researched non-residential building and infrastructure intentions.
Other key findings from the report
Auckland’s new housing will increasingly rely on apartments (multi-units) and we are already seeing this shift in latest consent data. For May close to half of Auckland’s consents were multi-units.
The upper North Island triangle of Auckland, Waikato and Tauranga sustains non-residential building activity.
Wellington experienced the strongest total construction growth in 2017.
The report can be found here: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/building-construction/skills-innovation-productivity/national-construction-pipeline
Mon, 30 Jul 2018 10:02:05 +1200beehive.govt.nz104864Ensuring a sustainable construction workforce for New Zealandhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ensuring-sustainable-construction-workforce-new-zealand
Addressing the skills shortage in the construction sector is a key priority for this Government, says Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa.
“This is a critical issue so we must work with urgency,” says Jenny Salesa. “That is why I am leading the Ministerial Group on the Construction Workforce, which has developed a Construction Skills Action Plan to build a sustainable construction workforce for New Zealand.
“This isn’t just about numbers. We need a workforce that can embrace innovation and new and efficient methods of construction.
“We know this will take time which is why my colleague, the Minister of Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway, is today announcing the proposed immigration changes to support KiwiBuild.
“If we are to increase the capacity and capability of the construction workforce, we cannot work in silos. Through a cross-Government programme of work, we will partner with the construction sector to drive a rapid and sustainable shift.
“We need the right people, at the right time, with the right skills to meet New Zealand’s current and future construction pipeline, including Kiwibuild.
“I am undertaking targeted sector engagement on the proposed Action Plan. I want to hear from the construction sector, all possible solutions to the enormous challenge of tackling the shortage of skills in construction in New Zealand,” says Jenny Salesa.
Engagement on the Construction Skills Action Plan begins Thursday 28 June and runs until Tuesday 17 July. For more information please contact: Jess.Walker@mbie.govt.nz
The cabinet paper: Action plan to deliver the Construction Skills Strategy can be found here
Wed, 27 Jun 2018 12:00:12 +1200beehive.govt.nz104530Government to work with Mayoral Housing Taskforce http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-work-mayoral-housing-taskforce
The Government today committed to working with the Auckland Mayor’s Housing Taskforce aimed at ramping up the pace and scale of housing building in our largest city, Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford and Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa says.
The Taskforce is a multi-sector group made up of private sector housing organisations and public sector agencies. It will be a key forum for reviewing and developing housing policy to better address shortages and unaffordability in Auckland.
Phil Twyford says there is a strong overlap between the Taskforce’s objectives and the Government’s own reform projects.
“It’s great that Auckland Council is taking the lead on this work. Government officials will be doing all they can to work with the Taskforce to implement the necessary reforms.
“Fixing Auckland’s housing issues is the key to addressing the national housing crisis. Central government can’t do this alone; we must partner with Council, the community, business and iwi.
“The social cost of the housing crisis on Auckland’s most vulnerable – and especially its children – means this work must be a priority,” Phil Twyford says.
Jenny Salesa says Council and the private sector have stressed the need for standardised solutions that can accelerate house building.
“A key priority for me is developing a skills strategy for the construction sector. We have ambitious house building targets and need the right people with the right skills to help deliver it.
“For this to be successful, the sector and government must work together to make sure immigration, training and education are matched by the construction sector’s efforts to be seen as an attractive career to a diverse range of Kiwis,” Jenny Salesa says.
Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:06:38 +1300beehive.govt.nz103039More time to fix unreinforced masonry http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-time-fix-unreinforced-masonry
Building owners who have taken ‘reasonable steps’ to secure unreinforced masonry on their buildings following the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake now have a further six months to complete the remedial work.
‘Reasonable steps’ would include
Design work being complete, or in progress, and a demonstrable programme of work.
The programme of work provides an indication of when the building owner will contract a builder and when the work is expected to be completed.
“This amendment is to help building owners who’ve made genuine efforts, but haven’t met the deadline, due to capacity constraints in the sector,” says Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa.
“Where building owners have done nothing, I expect councils to exercise their powers to manage public safety risks.”
Councils have the power to limit access to the building, and/or take enforcement action. The penalty for non-compliance is a fine of up to $200,000.
“It is crucial for building owners to make their buildings safe. Unreinforced parapets and facades pose significant risk to life and safety of the public,” says Ms Salesa.
“Thirty-nine people were killed by falling unreinforced masonry in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and we know the risks can be reduced by securing parapets and facades to the main building structure.
“We have struck a balance between the need to protect public safety and the need to recognise the practical constraints that have delayed progress for some building owners,” says Ms Salesa.
Note to the editor: On 19 March, the Government increased the funding cap for securing work for buildings that are three storeys or taller from $25,000 to $65,000.
Wed, 07 Mar 2018 10:26:28 +1300beehive.govt.nz103003More flexible unreinforced masonry fund announcedhttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-flexible-unreinforced-masonry-fund-announced
Further changes have been made to the $4.5 million Unreinforced Masonry Buildings Securing Fund (URM Fund) for large and complex buildings that require securing work.
“These changes to the URM fund support building owners to complete important securing work in order to reduce risks to public safety in the event of another significant earthquake in the region,” says Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa.
“The more flexible nature of the URM fund will provide certainty for building owners with large and complex buildings.”
Buildings that are defined as large and complex can now apply to receive up to $65,000 for securing work. This is an increase from the previous funding cap of $25,000.
The newly created definition of large and complex buildings is, buildings that are three storeys or more. These types of buildings require more remedial work to be secured than buildings two storeys and under.
“Changes to the URM Fund are in direct response to feedback from councils and building owners in affected areas. We recognise the fact that owners of large and complex buildings have greater costs, and are responding to this need.
“The new funding cap will help building owners to find the best and fastest solutions to securing their buildings,” says Ms Salesa.
Size of URM buildings to be secured
New cap
Buildings three storeys or taller
$65,000
Building two storeys or under
$25,000
Building owners who were issued a notice under section 124 of the Building Act 2004 (in relation to unreinforced masonry buildings with street-facing parapets and facades) from their local council and who wish to access funding for the work can find more information at www.building.govt.nz
Contact: Kieran Meredith, 027 879 2336
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:23:17 +1300beehive.govt.nz102779Practical changes to unreinforced masonry securing initiativehttp://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/practical-changes-unreinforced-masonry-securing-initiative
Changes have been made to the $4.5million Unreinforced Masonry Building Securing Fund (URM Fund) in response to constraints building owners were facing while attempting to secure buildings.
“Changes to the initiative will increase the flexibility of the URM Fund and allow it to be used for more activities,” says Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa.
“I am also seeking to extend the time before penalties are applied and I’ll make a further announcement about this and seek feedback on potential changes in the New Year.”
From mid-February 2018, building owners will be able to apply for:
up to $25,000 to secure either a single parapet or façade, or both (instead of $10,000 for a parapet and $15,000 for a façade)
funding for work to remove non-heritage unreinforced masonry parapets and facades
raising the funding cap to secure large and complex unreinforced masonry buildings.
Building owners can also apply to MBIE for funding towards the cost of an engineering assessment as soon as they receive an invoice from their engineer, rather than once all work has been completed.
The Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery (Unreinforced Masonry Buildings) Order 2017 was introduced in February 2017 in response to heightened earthquake risk following the November 2016 Kaikōura earthquakes.
Earlier this year councils in affected areas identified buildings with unreinforced masonry elements that need to be secured to manage life safety risks. Building owners with unreinforced masonry parapets and facades that face into busy thoroughfares in Wellington, Hutt City, Blenheim and Hurunui were given a year (through to March 2018) to get this securing work done.
At that time, heightened seismic risk was expected to continue until December 2017. Updated forecasting shows that the heightened risk is still present, and is expected to continue for at least another six months. Securing work remains the most effective means of managing the life safety risks during this period.
While the affected councils and engineers have actively supported building owners to get the necessary work done, engineering and contracting capacity is stretched, and some buildings are larger and/or more complex to secure than anticipated.
“There can be no doubt we need to get this work done quickly, to ensure we are meeting our safety requirements, however these amendments respond to the practical constraints building owners and councils are facing. We are looking to give building owners more support to get this vital work done,” says Ms Salesa.
Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:01:34 +1300beehive.govt.nz102485Moves to make building rules easier to access and understand http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/moves-make-building-rules-easier-access-and-understand
The Government is making it easier for people to understand and apply best practice when designing and constructing buildings.
By launching a new building system search engine and sponsoring five commonly used building standards and a handbook, we hope to see improved compliance with the Building Code, and even more importantly, safer homes and buildings, says Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa.
“The online search engine, Building CodeHub helps people locate the latest building rules and guidance information for designing and constructing buildings,” says Ms Salesa. “It’s the definitive source of up-to-date rules and guidance from a range of sources.”
“New Zealand’s building regulator the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), has sponsored some of the most commonly-used standards, making them freely available to all users,” says Ms Salesa.
“We anticipate that providing free access to these standards, will make it easier for consumers to understand the building code requirements and apply best practice methods when undertaking home building projects.”
The sponsored standards and handbook, which can be accessed from the Standards New Zealand website, are:
Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities (NZS 4121:2001) - provides solutions for making buildings and facilities accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.
Housing, alterations and small buildings contract (NZS 3902:2004) - a plain English standard building contract.
Thermal insulation - housing and small buildings (NZS 4218:2009) - helps establish the levels of thermal insulation for houses and small buildings.
Interconnected smoke alarms for houses (NZS 4514:2009) - provides information about the placement and audibility of smoke alarms.
Safety barriers and fences around swimming pools, spas and hot tubs (NZS 8500:2006) - describes barriers for residential pools including ways to assess their strength.
Handbook on Timber-framed buildings (selected extracts from NZS 3604:2011) - figures and tables to help design and construct timber-framed buildings up to three storeys high.
“MBIE will continue to make the building system more accessible with further enhancements to Building CodeHub and considering ways to improve access to more design and construction building standards,” says Ms Salesa.
https://codehub.building.govt.nz/
https://www.standards.govt.nz/
Mon, 18 Dec 2017 12:35:24 +1300beehive.govt.nz102417